An analysis of California emergency department (ED) visits revealed an unadjusted incidence, per 1,000 ED visits, of 4.00 in 2007 to 5.23 in 2010. In adjusted analyses, the investigators, Holden K. Groves, MS, and colleagues from the University of California San Diego in La Jolla, found that the incidence of AUR-related ED visits and the incidence of urethral catheterization increased significantly by 36% and 38%, respectively, from 2007 to 2010.

The investigators also looked at risk factors for AUR and urethral catheterization. The likelihood of making an ED visit for AUR was similar for whites and blacks, but compared with whites, blacks were 19% less likely to receive a urethral catheter. Hispanics and Asians were 65% and 60% more likely to make an AUR-related ED visit and 51% and 78% more likely to receive a urethral catheter compared with whites.

In addition, compared with men aged 50-64, those aged 65-74, 75-84, and 85 and older were 4.30, 5.5, and 5.6 times more likely to make an ED visit for AUR and 4.22, 5.44, and 5.38 times more likely to undergo urethral catheterization.

The investigators analyzed data from 3.7 million ED visits captured in the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development Database.